Tie one on with Arne Woodard

Spokane Valley Deputy Mayor Arne Woodard doesn’t really like to wear a tie, but he feels Valley residents deserve the respect a tie brings to the city council dais so he puts one on for the council meetings. Over the years, he has collected hundreds of ties and on Wednesday, at the Mayor’s state of the city address at Spokane Valley Mall he was sporting 1950s TV star Lucille Ball and her fictitious elixir Vitameatavegamin.

“The ties sometimes reflect how I feel,” Woodard said. “If I think I’m going to have a dog kind’a day, then I may wear a Snoopy tie.” His colorful neck wear is often an icebreaker with constituents and he’s determined to grow the collection.

“I’d love to add some Jerry Garcia ties,” Woodard said, “I don’t have any of those.”